Life Changers Community Outreach Center

Student Handbook

A message for students:

  • We are glad you are here and we look forward to taking part in your healing and recovery. Life changers outreach is a discipleship ministry and your relationship with God is going to be top priority while you are under our care. Please keep in in mind that our staff is here to help and assist you if you are willing to submit to the structure and various rules of this program.
  • Coming into a program can be difficult at first. During this time it important to understand that almost everyone experiences similar emotions at the beginning of their program and if you allow God to help you and strengthen you during this first few weeks, you will be victorious over your emotions and you will overcome your struggles. During This time it’s also important to communicate your struggles with a staff who can pray with you, remember; we are here to help.

PROGRAM LENGTH

Life Changers Community Outreach is one year in length. Depending upon circumstances, program length may be extended, but will not be shortened.This includes students that are both voluntary and court-ordered. Although the Court may order less than a one year sentence, our program has a minimum length requirement of one year. If a court-ordered student still elects to enroll in the program, he must agree to serve the entire year, or whatever time it takes for completion of the program. We will not provide a successful completion letter, or graduation certificate to the Court for any time less than the prescribed time for that student, which will never be less than, but can be greater than one year. Time is typically added to a student’s stay if the client incurs any major infractions of policy during his stay in the program; hence the possibility of completion of the program taking more than one year

Completion of the program is critical to the success of the student. Therefore, it is imperative that he/she is supported to this end. Family members should not allow any room for discussion of removing the student from the program before he/she has completed all requirements of the program. Upon enrolling a student, family members must agree that they will not assist the student in exiting the program before completion of the program.

Passes and Student Visitation

Life Changers Community Outreach Center maintains strict policies concerning student passes and visitation, mail and telephone calls. Please note that students who are on disciplinary action may have passes, phone calls and/or mail privileges temporarily suspended. A list of approved family and contacts will be made upon entry. This list may be limited to 5 people not including children.

Students should not be given cell phones at any time, including passes and other visitations. Students are not allowed to have or use cell phones. A student found with a cell phone could be dismissed, or the person discovered to have given the student the cell phone, or the use thereof, could lose all visitation and communication privileges.

Students may not have visitors at their work sites or at fundraiser events or at any location other than what is allowed during approved pass times. Failure by family members or friends to respect these policies could result in dismissal of the student, or loss of all future passes.

All visitors coming onto the property must dress appropriately and be properly covered. Animals and pets are not allowed anywhere on property. When visiting your family member, please leave your pets at home. Visitors should remain in designated public areas only. Male or female visitors should not mix with other students and must remain with family members in public areas at all times. Family members should visit with each other as the process of healing begins by talking and communicating openly. All visitors, family members and students should respect others’ visitation times, keeping appropriate boundaries.

During visitations students should visit with their own families and guests only. Visiting with other guests and family is prohibited. If not a family member: touching, hugging, slapping, toying with, holding, etc. with minors of any age is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Only those contacts approved on a student’s communication list will be allowed to visit with them on their visitation and/or passes unless special permission is given by their counselor. When arriving, visitors and family members should check in first before they see their student. Visitors and family members may visit in the designated visitation areas. Visitors and family members are not allowed in the dorm rooms. If the student has an off campus pass then he/she may go ahead and leave with his family after check in but must be back to check in at designated time. All minors must be in company of an adult and not left unattended or to wander outside.

Guidelines for Passes and/or visitation

  • A student is prohibited from communicating with girlfriends or boyfriends while on or off campus
  • If married, student must produce a marriage certificate to receive visits or to be eligible for off campus passes. Common law marriage is not recognized as a legal marriage
  • Monthly Visits are on a pre-scheduled Sunday, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM except by special permission. Visitation request must be turned in days 10 prior to the requested visit. All visitors must be approved by the Program Director. If you receive an unofficial visitor, they may be asked to leave. All visitors are asked to sign the visitation log when arriving.
  • A student may not have money in his/ her possession at any time. Family and friends are requested to refrain from giving the student cash while he/she is on pass. A student who is found to have money in their possession when returning to campus is subject to discipline or dismissal. Family members may provide money for the student’s account, but all funds should be given to a staff member only, not to the student.
  • Transportation for off campus passes should be provided by family. When travel arrangements are made after business hours the student is responsible to secure their transportation and communicate to appropriate staff two weeks prior to pass.
  • Students must not be late in returning from passes. Returning late may jeopardize the student’s next pass or other privileges, or possibly extend his/her time in the program.
  • Students will be searched upon returning to the campus for contraband and will be drug and nicotine tested.
  • Upon returning to campus, a student may not be given food items or soda for future use, as all food products are not allowed in the dormitory rooms. All items of this nature left with the student will be confiscated upon his return to campus.
  • Family members may not smoke or use tobacco products while anywhere on the Life Changers Outreach campus. No internet use. The consumption or possession of alcohol, either before picking up the student, during the pass, or returning the student to campus, is also prohibited. Family members must be free of any type of intoxicants during the student’s pass. The use of alcohol or drugs by a family member while a student is on pass with them will result in that family member losing visitation and communication privileges.
  • During visitation ensure that children do not get separated from their families, all children of all ages must be supervised and be escorted at all times by an adult family member. Family members will not be allowed to wander away from the designated areas for safety reasons. All families will be required to STRICTLY adhere to these rules. Failure to follow these rules may result in visitation restrictions or other loss of privileges for individuals who do not follow these policies. Life Changers Community Outreach Center will not be responsible for any incident that may occur with an unescorted child of any age

Timelines for Passes:

4months: one 8 hour off campus pass

8months: one 12 hour pass with family

10 months: 24 hour pass with family

On campus visits will be scheduled once a month

(All passes and timelines are subject to change at Director approval)

Pass Eligibility:

Students must have a proven ability to remain obedient to rules and policy.

Student must maintain academic requirements of the program.

Student must be free of all disciplinary action for a period of 30 days.

Students must produce marriage certificate to prove married. Common law marriage is not approved.

Emergency Passes

  • Special passes beyond the regular pass schedule are NOT allowed. Emergency passes for death or sickness are allowed for immediate family members only, and are not granted for friends or extended family members. Time determined on individual basis.

Passes for Students on Community Control and Probation and Misc.

  • Any pass given to a student on probation is approved only under the conditions specified by the Court and/or the student’s Probation or Parole Officer. Students are not allowed to take a pass and commit any action or violate any clause specified by the Court or the Probation and Parole Office. Any student on a court order is not allowed to have a pass without proper authority from the courts. They are confined to the property, except where they are attending assigned LCOC functions or duties, including work sites.
  • If a student feels the need to seek non-emergency dental or medical attention outside of scheduled passes, he/she may request a miscellaneous pass but it may be at the sacrifice of pass time

Clothing Restrictions

Female family members, friends and guests should never come onto the campus wearing inappropriate clothing. Examples (not all inclusive) in inappropriate clothing are:

  • See-through garments, Tight fitting garments or garments that are revealing, Shorts worn 3” above knee length, Skirts or dresses shorter than 2” above the knee, Tank tops,Shirts or blouses which reveal the navel or midriff, Garments that allow undergarments to be seen, or Garments with inappropriate themes or words.

Male family members, friends and guests should also be aware of their dress code. Examples (not all inclusive) in inappropriate clothing are:

  • Tank tops or fishnet shirts,T-shirts with inappropriate themes or shirts which advertise alcohol, cigarettes, bars or nudity, any pants style that reveals undergarments, jewelry with symbols of the occult or horoscopes.

Telephone Calls

  • Telephone calls are a privilege and may be restricted as a part of disciplinary action.
  • Students may not receive incoming phone calls.
  • A student is eligible to place phone calls after he/ she has been in the program for 14 days, provided he/she is not under disciplinary action.
  • All phone calls are monitored. Staff reserves the right to end any phone call conversation that is decided to be unhealthy in any way.
  • Each student has an assigned time and day(s) to place his/her phone call(s). Calls are 15 minutes in length 2 times per week
  • If a student makes a call during the day or at any other time apart from his assigned time(s), that phone call must first be approved by administration.
  • If a student makes telephone calls at any time or at any place without permission, he/she has committed an infraction that can be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.
  • A student may have phone visits with the following persons:

Spouse and/or Children, Parents, Grandparents,Siblings

Mail

  • Students may send and receive mail immediately upon admission to the program.
  • Students are to put outgoing mail in an unsealed envelope and turn into staff screening and mailing. Staff reviews all out-going and incoming mail, and inappropriate mail will be destroyed.
  • Any letters found to have foul or vulgar language; inappropriate content or themes that are questionable in nature will be destroyed and will not be given to the student.
  • Students may receive mail from family members and appropriate church leaders only that are on the approved contacts list for that student.
  • Any package or letter that contains inappropriate or illegal contraband will be turned over to proper legal authorities.
  • Students are responsible for their own postage.

Medicine policies

  • We do not accept students who take addictive medications that are narcotic type medications. Such medications include, but are not limited to, painkillers, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, benzodiazepines and sedatives. If a student is prescribed an unacceptable medication while he/she is in the program and chooses to take the medication, then the student will be required to leave the program.
  • The Program Director or his/her designee must approve all medication. Do not purchase over the counter (OTC) medicine, unless you have obtained staff permission first. The staff will dispense all OTC medication and prescription medicines. Medicine of any kind, including aspirin, cough syrup, etc. may not be kept in your room. Violations of this rule may result in discipline, and possible expulsion from the program.
  • Any student who is either entering the program or who is currently in the program who has been prescribed a medication should take the medication exactly as ordered by the Physician. Failure to do so could result in that student’s dismissal from the program.
  • Life Changers Community Outreach Center is not a medical facility. All non-emergency medical or dental issues should be dealt with prior to entry or upon completion of the program.
  • Each person will be considered individually for entry. Life Changers Community Outreach Center, however, is NOT a medical facility, and is not allowed by law to make medical assessments.
  • Because we are NOT a medical facility, this is not a place for a student to detox from medications or intoxicants of any type. Before entering the program, every student should be completely detoxed from all intoxicating substances. Life Changers Community Outreach Center will not be responsible if a student does not act responsibly and detoxify him/ herself before entering the program.
  • If you have a condition such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy etc., you are responsible to take your medicine at the med call times. If you have an episode between med calls, medicine will be given to you to help your condition. However, action may be taken if you have been negligent to take medicines as directed at appropriate med times.
  • Med call is at breakfast and supper times only, unless otherwise prescribed

General Restrictions

  • Gossiping about anyone, whether good or bad, will not be tolerated.
  • No smoking (tobacco products of any kind), drugs, or alcoholic beverages are permitted including times when off campus.
  • No cursing, foul language of any kind, or talk about former life, drugs or alcohol is remarks, obnoxious behavior that creates unnecessary noise in the Center, such as shouting, whistling, slamming of doors are all prohibited.
  • Any students who have been in the program for a period less than 14 days shall not be permitted to talk to other students who also are less than 14 days into their program
  • All clothing is to be marked when a student comes into the program. A student must not borrow things from other students. If a student does not have adequate clothing, he should talk to staff.
  • No hats are to be worn in the building.
  • Each student is expected to use acceptable forms of address, such "Ms. Jane" or "Sister Jones" or “Pastor Smith”. Slang expressions and nicknames are not acceptable. Students are to address one another by their proper name.
  • Students must show respect to all counselors, teachers, staff and students at all times, and must not curse, joke or jest in a negative or vulgar way, or fight. There is a NO TOLERANCE policy for striking a staff or student, and criminal charges will be filed in such cases.
  • When being corrected by staff, do not attempt to justify or explain. Simply accept the correction and if appropriate apologize for conduct. Do not walk away. Be respectful.
  • If a student leaves a personal item lying around at any time, it may be confiscated.
  • You are not permitted to gamble.
  • No contactwhatsoever is allowed between male and female students for any reason.
  • Students are required to be ready and on time for all scheduled events. No excuses of any kind are accepted for being late.
  • Fighting is never tolerated. Anyone caught fighting will be automatically dismissed.
  • No one should be lying down during the day without written staff approval. You may not lie down during free time or at any time between 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
  • Students having to go off campus an excessive number times (15) for personal reasons will have time added to the program. This includes going to doctor, dentist, probation officers, etc.
  • No one is allowed outside the designated boundaries without staff accompaniment or approval.
  • If you are given an answer to a question by a staff or intern do not ask anyone else unless you inform them of what the other staff or intern has said. Do not keep going to staff until you get the answer you want.
  • No current student is allowed to talk to anyone who has left the program early.
  • No secular reading materials of any kind are allowed unless the director gives special permission. Only approved Christian reading material is allowed.
  • No stray animals are to be petted or fed.

Work Restrictions